Combination purge and regulating valve

ABSTRACT

A purge and balancing valve having a valve body with a purge opening and a vane type valve member adapted to rotate in a balancing position between fully open and fully closed and when closed being adapted to move to a purging position where communication between the purge opening and one side of the valve is established. The valve is capable of purging in either direction and is designed to prevent inadvertent movement to the purging position.

United States Patent Shur et al.

[ 1 COMBINATION PURGE AND REGULATING VALVE Inventors: Ira Shur, Rockville Center, N.Y.; Theodore Mulle, Jr., Huntington, NY.

Assignee: Flair Manufacturing Corporation,

Hauppague, New York Filed: Sept. 17, 1970 Appl. No.: 72,939

US. Cl. ..l37/625.l7, l37/625.47, 137/597, 251/309 Int. Cl ..F16k 11/02 Field of Search ..l37/625.17, 636.4, 625.41, l37/625.46, 625.47, 597; 251/309, 310

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1946 Pontius ..l37/636.4

mlMarch 13, 1973 3,037,526 6/1962 Wheeler ..137/636.4 3,536,100 10/1970 Marlow 137/6254? Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Alt0rneyBurgess, Dinklage & Sprung [57] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBRAR 1 3 ms INVIEN IRA SHU TORS THEODORE MULLE. JR.

Buncssss. DINKLAGE & spnuwa ATTORNEYS.

COMBINATION PURGE AND REGULATING VALVE BACKGROUND This invention relates to a combination purge and balancing valve. More particularly, this invention relates to a purge and balancing valve of simple construction requiring no tools or special equipment to go from the balancing mode to the purging mode which is capable of purging in either the downstream or upstream directions and has built-in safeguards against the inadvertent movement of the valve to the purging mode.

SUMMARY The present invention provides a combination purge and balancing valve comprising a valve body having an upper bore, a lower bore with a purge opening in communication therewith, and valve member having a stem, an upper portion adapted to slidably fit in the upper bore, a generally flat vane member for controlling the flow through the valve the lower portion of which is adapted to slidably fit in the lower bore. The vane is provided with an enlarged half section member extending outwardly from the lower portion of the vane and to one side thereof. This enlarged portion also slidably fits in the lower bore. The valve member terminates in lower portion, generally smaller in size than the vane which is adapted to slidably fit in the purge opening.

The valve member has two functions; first it is adapted to rotate about its vertical axis in a balancing position to regulate flow through the valve with the lower portionthereto in or closing off the purge opening; and secondly, it is adapted to reciprocate between the balancing position and a purge position when the vane is at right angles to the direction of flow. In the purging position the enlarged half section portion of the vane close's off that side of the valve which it faces by remaining in sealing contact with the lower bore and communication is established between the purge opening and that side of the valve opposite the side of the vane having the enlarged half section.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view partially in vertical section of a valve of this invention shown fully opened in the balancing mode;

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in vertical section of the V valve of FIG. 1 shown in the purging mode;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred key washer for use in the valve of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the key washer of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view showing the swivel connection.

THE DESCRIPTION shown) for purposes of positioning the conduit at any angle desired.

The valve member is shown to include a stem I having a nub or key 4 extending outwardly therefrom, a generally flat vane member 3 having an enlarged lower semicircular portion 15 extending out from one side thereof (FIG. 2) and terminating in lower portion 13 of reduced diameter. Positioned between stem 1 and vane 3 is a reel shaped member 31 which slidably fits in bore 30. Vane 3 and lower portion 15 thereof slidably fit in lower bore 16. Lower. portion 13 slidably fits in purge opening 14. O-ring gaskets 20 and 21 provide sealing means for upper bore 30 and purge opening 14.

Shown mounted in the upper portion of valve body 2 is a key washer 6 held in place by snap ring 17. Attached to the upper end of stem 1 is a valve handle 9 and positioned between key washer 6 and handle 9 is a spring 7.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a preferred key washer for use in the present invention is shown to include on the underside thereof a series of stops 8 at right angles to each other and two key slots 10 spaced opposite each other in the central opening in key washer 6 in which stem I with key 4 slidably rotate and reciprocate.

When vane 3 is parallel to the direction of flow (FIG. I) the valve is fully opened and when vane 3 is at right angles to the direction of flow, the valve is fully closed. Vane 3 is rotated by means of handle 9 to intermediate positions for balancing or regulating flow through the valves.

To move the valve to the purging position (FIG. 2) stem 1 is rotated until key 4 is able to slide upwards in a key slot in washer 6. Spring 7 forces the entire valve member upwards until member 31 rests against washer 6. In this position, vane 3 is at right angles to the direction of flow and because its lower portion 15 remains partially in bore 16, that side of the valve is cut off. At the same time on the opposite side of the valve, lower portion I3 is withdrawn from the purge opening 14 thereby establishing communication with purge conduit 23 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2.

When using the preferred key washer shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the balancing position key 4 on stem 1 rotates between a pair of stops 8 on washer 6 not having a key slot 10 between them. As shown in FIG. 4, the valve can be operated in the balancing position between either of two pairs of stops 8 which are essentially opposite each other. Stops 8 without a key slot 10 between them prevent the inadvertent movement of the valve to the purging mode (FIG. 2).

If the preferred key washer of FIGS. 3 and 4 is employed, vane 3 and portion 15 and lower member 13 do not fully seat in lower bore 16 and purge opening 14, respectively. At the same time there is a space between handle 9 and washer 6. In this manner, when it is desired to move to the purging position, handle 9 is depressed to fully seat vane 3 and. portion 15 and lower member 13 and rotated while depressed past a stop 8. Continued rotation will bring key 4 into alignment with one of key slots 10 and spring 7 will then move the valve member upward into the purging mode. The valve of this invention can purge in either direction as is evident from the drawing by selecting the key slot 10 which corresponds to the purge direction desired.

The present invention has several important features not possessed by prior valves. For example, purging is accomplished with the same valve members utilized for balancing and no tools are required to purge. Also the valve member can be removed with ease by removing snap ring 17. When handle 9 is elevated (H6. 2), it provides a visual indicator that the valve is in the purging mode. A low handle indicates the balancing mode. The combination of stops 8 and key slots 10 in washer 6 allow purging in either direction and prevents accidental purging since a conscious downward movement of the handle 9 is required to by-pass a stop 8 and gain access to a key slot 10.

What is claimed is:

1. Combination purge and regulating valve comprising:

a. a valve body having an upper bore, a communicating and axially aligned lower bore and a purge opening in communication with said lower bore and a fluid inlet and fluid outlet in communication with said lower bore a valve member having a stern, an upper valve portion slidably fitting in said upper bore, a generally flat vane member slidably disposed in said lower bore, said vane having an enlarged portion extending outwardly from one side thereof which can slidably fit in said lower bore and a lower portion which slidably fits in said purge opening;

c. said valve member being rotatably mounted within said valve body so as to be rotatable about its vertical axis in a regulating position with said lower portion in said purge opening to regulate the flow through said valve;

. said valve member movable within said lower bore to reciprocate between said regulating position and a purging position with said lower portion withdrawn from said purge opening when said vane is at right angles to the direction of flow of fluid through said fluid inlet, communication being established between said purge opening and the side of said valve opposite the side of said vane having said outwardly extending enlarged portion when said valve member is in the purging position.

2. Valve of claim 1 wherein said valve body has a washer mounted therein having a key slot in a central opening in which said stem slidably fits, said stem having key means which slidably fits in said key slot to permit said valve member to reciprocate when said vane is at right angles to the direction of flow.

3. Valve of claim 2 wherein said washer is provided with means to limit the rotation of said valve member in the regulating position between fully open and fully closed and to prevent the inadvertent movement of the valve member to the purging position.

4. Valve of claim 2 wherein said stem is provided with a valve handle and spring means are disposed between said washer and said handle to cause said valve member to reciprocate.

5. Valve of claim 1 which includes means to indicate when said valve is in the purging or regulating mode.

6. Valve of claim 1 wherein said valve member is movable about an axis to establish communication with said purge opening from either side of said valve thereby enabling said valve to purge in either direction. 7. Valve of c aim wherem said purge opening is con- 

1. Combination purge and regulating valve compriSing: a. a valve body having an upper bore, a communicating and axially aligned lower bore and a purge opening in communication with said lower bore and a fluid inlet and fluid outlet in communication with said lower bore b. a valve member having a stem, an upper valve portion slidably fitting in said upper bore, a generally flat vane member slidably disposed in said lower bore, said vane having an enlarged portion extending outwardly from one side thereof which can slidably fit in said lower bore and a lower portion which slidably fits in said purge opening; c. said valve member being rotatably mounted within said valve body so as to be rotatable about its vertical axis in a regulating position with said lower portion in said purge opening to regulate the flow through said valve; d. said valve member movable within said lower bore to reciprocate between said regulating position and a purging position with said lower portion withdrawn from said purge opening when said vane is at right angles to the direction of flow of fluid through said fluid inlet, communication being established between said purge opening and the side of said valve opposite the side of said vane having said outwardly extending enlarged portion when said valve member is in the purging position.
 1. Combination purge and regulating valve compriSing: a. a valve body having an upper bore, a communicating and axially aligned lower bore and a purge opening in communication with said lower bore and a fluid inlet and fluid outlet in communication with said lower bore b. a valve member having a stem, an upper valve portion slidably fitting in said upper bore, a generally flat vane member slidably disposed in said lower bore, said vane having an enlarged portion extending outwardly from one side thereof which can slidably fit in said lower bore and a lower portion which slidably fits in said purge opening; c. said valve member being rotatably mounted within said valve body so as to be rotatable about its vertical axis in a regulating position with said lower portion in said purge opening to regulate the flow through said valve; d. said valve member movable within said lower bore to reciprocate between said regulating position and a purging position with said lower portion withdrawn from said purge opening when said vane is at right angles to the direction of flow of fluid through said fluid inlet, communication being established between said purge opening and the side of said valve opposite the side of said vane having said outwardly extending enlarged portion when said valve member is in the purging position.
 2. Valve of claim 1 wherein said valve body has a washer mounted therein having a key slot in a central opening in which said stem slidably fits, said stem having key means which slidably fits in said key slot to permit said valve member to reciprocate when said vane is at right angles to the direction of flow.
 3. Valve of claim 2 wherein said washer is provided with means to limit the rotation of said valve member in the regulating position between fully open and fully closed and to prevent the inadvertent movement of the valve member to the purging position.
 4. Valve of claim 2 wherein said stem is provided with a valve handle and spring means are disposed between said washer and said handle to cause said valve member to reciprocate.
 5. Valve of claim 1 which includes means to indicate when said valve is in the purging or regulating mode.
 6. Valve of claim 1 wherein said valve member is movable about an axis to establish communication with said purge opening from either side of said valve thereby enabling said valve to purge in either direction.
 7. Valve of claim wherein said purge opening is connected to a purge conduit, which purge conduit is pivotally connected to said valve to discharge at any angle desired in its horizontal plane with respect to the direction of flow through said valve. 